National Grid: Strategic, Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting

National Grid: Strengthening our licence to operate and saving money through our employee wellbeing programme

National data indicates that the average business cost of poor mental health is £1,029 per employee. This has broader personal and societal impacts, as well as being a cost and a risk to business continuity, our reputation with our employees and our stakeholders.

We developed a tailored programme to support employees with occupational health and wellbeing advice and support, and rehabilitation services for physical and mental health issues.

For every £1 investment in these services, we are seeing at least a £2 return in reduced sickness absence costs. The combination of the health and support services we provide has positive outcomes, for example employees return ahead of their predicted return to work date.

The predicted return to work date is based on independent international data covering age, work type, sex, type and degree of injury and or illness.

This investment in occupational health, employee assistance programmes and rehabilitation services not only support the 3% of absent employees, but also the health and performance of the 97% still at work. To monitor the

performance of the programme, we track running costs, sickness rates and return to work dates compared to

expected return.